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How a little tree becomes a "masterpiece"

No one can represent VAN HAM Art Auctions better in the photography department than the renowned photographer Albert Renger-Patzsch. Time and again present in VAN HAM auctions, in the upcoming auction more high quality works will be called. He captures nature and urbanity with masterly skill: The journey leads through remarkable paths (e.g. Lot 587/ € 4.400) passed early plant photos (Lot 582/ € 12.000) up to the suburban houses of Essen (Lot 586/ € 12.000). Positioned as an icon is "das Bäumchen"[the little tree] – a young solitary stem in a landscape creating a poignant suspense (Lot 583/ € 14.000).

This time the oeuvre of Albert Renger-Patzsch is presented with a whole array of masterpieces. The plant photograph "Heterotroicum Macrodum" originated in 1922/23 undoubtedly counts amongst his most famous early motifs. The original print (Lot 582/ € 12.000) of his work "Die Welt ist schön" (1928) and depicted in the publication "foto-auge" by Franz Roh and Jan Tschichold (1929). A true icon is the "Bäumchen" from 1928/29, of which the original print will be on auction (Lot 583/ € 14.000).
Furthermore to be called:
• The titlework "Vorstadthäuser in Essen", which belongs to Renger's most sought-after Ruhr-photographs (Lot 586/ € 12.000)
• "Schneesturm auf einer erzgeb. Landstraße" from the 1930s (Lot 587/ € 4.400)
• Further early landscape pictures, e.g. from the 1926 series "Die Halligen" (Lot 584 & 585/ € 2.200 & 2.000)

Original prints from the 1920s and 1930s traditionally form a focal point in the photography auctions of VAN HAM Art Auctions. The kick-off is made by one high-quality German private vintage photograph collection of several Bauhaus-photographers from the 1930s. Herein two portrait studies showing Paul Citroen can be found, and two equally beautiful Paris depictions by Marianne Breslauer (Lot 251-254/ to € 1.600). Paul Citroen himself is represented in the auction with four early original prints (Lot 255/ € 3.800, Lot 256-258/ each € 1.400). Werner Rohde impresses with the "Dompteur" from 1932 (Lot 261/ € 800) and the depictions "Fantastischer Zirkus" and "Karneval", mounted next to each other (Lot 260/ € 2.200). A hightlight of the spring auction definite is the lyrical still life "Stilleben mit schwebendem Ei" of Walter Peterhans dating from the 1930s and taxed for € 6.500 (Lot 259). Also the study of a hand by Anton Stankowski impresses the viewer of today (Lot 262/ € 2.200). Rarities are the two little still lifes by Edward Steichen from the 1920s (Lot 263-64/ each € 2.000).

Among the original prints of the 19th century a series of early indian landscape and architectural pictures by Samuel Bourne is distinguished, for the collector interestingly taxed with € 1.500 (Lot 203). VAN HAM offers a speciality this spring for all Hamburg lovers: an excellent impression of the early cityscape of Hamburg in two portfolios with alltogether 71 Albumin prints by the photographer Georg Koppmann (Lot 207/ € 15.000-20.000).

Original prints dating between the 1910s and 1960s from the Cologne photographer August Sander are plentiful in the June auction. Numerous pictures were taken in the artistic enviroment of the artist. One unique original print shows his friend and painter Anton Raederscheidt (Lot 625/ € 6.000), two others his first wife and artist Marta Hegemann (Lot 626-627/ € 6.000 and € 1.400).

A one of a kind attestation of the work of Cologne Photographer Ruth Hallensleben is given in three albums from her estate, each containing 13 to 14 large format original prints of the 1930s to 1950s (Lot 432-434/ each € 5.000).

The photographic reproduction of an original collage dating from 1930 with the title "Krieg der Zukunft" by Alexander Rodschenko is taxed with 5.000 euro (Lot 603).

The group ‚fotoform' and their artistic enviroment is represented in works by Peter Keetman (Lot 491-498/ € 1.600-3.200), Toni Schneiders (Lot 658-663/ € 1.600-2.200) and Ludwig Windstosser (Lot 717-721/ € 1.800-2.000).

Works of English and American photographers are a.o. by Margaret Bourke-White (Lots 335-337/ € 1.500-2.600), William Klein (Lots 504-507/ € 1.800-3.500), Duane Michals (Lots 544-547/ € 1.400-3.200), Lee Friedlander (Lots 409-411/ jeweils € 3.500), William Christenberry (Lot 373/ € 3.200) and Harry Callahan (Lots 354-355/ € 6.000-8.000).

Among the contemporary photographers eight colourprints by Joachim Brohm, which the artist made in the early 1980s in the Ruhr area (Lots 341-348/ € 1.000-1.400), should captivate the onlooker. Andreas Gursky is a.o. represented in this auction with the work "Salerno" (Lot 427/ € 10.000). Small- and large format works by Matthias Hoch are estimated between 900 euro and 5.000 euro (Lots 453-458). Impressive architectural depictions by the Cologne artist Candida Höfer (Lot 459-462/ € 1.400-5.000) are up for sale.

After the successful premiere in fall 2007, the offer is completed with precious photo-literature. On sale is a.o. the sought-after volume "Anonyme Skulpturen" by Bernd and Hilla Becher dating 1970 (Lot 101/ € 1.800). The eleven issue complete yearbook originating between 1930 and 1947 in Paris "Photographie – Art et Métiers Graphique" is likely to be of special interest to the collector (Lot 112/ € 5.800).